Pubdate: Tue, 14 Nov 2017
Source: Observer, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017, Sarnia Observer
Contact: http://www.theobserver.ca/letters
Website: http://www.theobserver.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1676
Author: Norman De Bono
Page: A2

POT DAMAGE TO HOMES AN ISSUE

Legalizing marijuana could mean people more people will grow pot,
which may hurt real estate sales, say city and national realty officials.

The looming federal legislation to legalize cannabis use states people
can grow up to four plants at home. But each pot plant can grow to
more than two metres and yield four crops a year, posing a risk of
water and mold damage inside a home, said Costa Poulopoulos, a London
realtor who is director of the Ontario region for the Canadian Real
Estate Association and a board member of the Ontario Real Estate
Association.

"There will be consequences of growing marijuana in homes. It does not
sound like a lot, only four plants, but they can do a lot of damage,"
said Poulopoulos.

"It's really a mini grow-op." Considering the height of the plants and
potential number, there is a risk of damage to the homes considering
the amount of water and heat required, he said.

What is needed are guidelines from Ottawa that demand those growing
pot in their homes disclose what was done in the home and if there is
damage, or steps to remediate, he said.

"Grow-ops have infrastructure consequences and there are no standards
on how to remediate. no registry for damaged properties," said
Poulopoulos.

Realtors are seeing potential home buyers walk away from a property if
marijuana has been grown there even if it is legal, for medical use
for example, he added.

"There is a problem with stigma, but there may also be an issue with
mold and air quality issues. If a buyer has a young family, they will
have concerns," said Poulopoulos. A task force appointed by the
Canadian government to study the legalization of marijuana recommended
each person of legal age can grow up to four plants at home. It also
recommended a height restriction on plants but that has since been
removed, although some provinces are implementing their own.

The Canadian Real Estate Association is lobbying the federal
government to include requirements that a home seller must disclose if
pot was grown in the house, and create standards for remediation if
there has been damage, said Randall McCauley, vice-president of
government and public relations at the Canadian Real Estate
Association.

There will be further government hearings on the issue before July,
when cannabis use is expected to be made legal, and the association
will be at the table, he said.

"We are looking for them to address this issue somehow. The
legislation is good at dealing with the consequences of illegal
distribution but on home growing, it is silent," he said.

"There has to be consequences. There has to be a penalty."

Unlike some other plants grown indoors, cannabis requires heat and a
lot of moisture, making conditions ideal for damage to the
infrastructure of a home.

McCauley also fears that when plants are mature, they can give off a
smell that can linger in a home and turn off home buyers.

"It is super humid, super damp," where cannabis is grown, he
said.

"Governments needs to take a look at this at all levels," said
Poulopoulos. "We are looking for direction and clarity. It has fallen
under the radar."

Now, some cannabis users are allowed to grow plants at home, as long
as it is for medical use and they have approval from Health Canada,
said Crystal Ramdharry, medical supervisor for Bodystream Medical
Marijuana Services on Wharncliffe Road in London.

"We have physicians approving grow-your-own through Health Canada. It
is something that can be managed, as long as people are only allowed
to grow so much," said Ramdharry.

Health Canada restricts the amount that can be grown, depending on the
applicant's needs, but most are in the range of two to four plants,
she said .

Bodystream assists applicants on how to apply to Health Canada, she
added.

Marijuana legalization

Marijuana set to become legal July 1, 2018.

Must be 19 years old or older to buy, use or grow marijuana.

To start, marijuana to be sold from 40 stores in Ontario run by the
Liquor Control Board of Ontario, including one in London.

Can't use marijuana in public places, at the office, or in
vehicles.

Proposed excise tax would add $1 a gram of marijuana or 10 per cent of
producer's sales price; sales tax calculated on top of that.
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